Comparing Classic Greek Literature with the Leadership Style of Martin Luther King, Jrs Book - Research Paper Example

? Comparing ic Greek Literature with the leadership style of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s book "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Customer Inserts His/ Her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name 01,10,2012 Introduction Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began drafting of his final book called Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community whilst on vacation in the Caribbean in January and February 1967. Publication of the book was done by Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, Evanston, and London1967. He did this work in a rented secluded house in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. He worked on the original manuscript for almost a month, and then sent chapters to Stanley Levison in New York for revisions. This research paper compares the classic Greek literature The Iliad with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" The paper discusses the literature used and the leaders within the Greek classic, their style, any relevant concepts of their leadership style, the themes and ideas of the leaders and the followers compared to the leadership displayed in Martin Luther King's book. In his lifetime, Dr. King received various citations and recognition for his work. He stood in the vortex of the civil rights struggle and became one of the nation’s foremost black leaders in the 1950s. Dr. King advocated for restraint and inclusion. His contributions were acknowledged by President Jimmy Carter who awarded with a Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1977. Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?  Dr. King's book portrays a picture of where America was in 1960’s. He had achieved two turning points. Firstly, his promotion of nonviolent direct action was winning the struggle, as opposed to old fashioned southern isolation. Dr. King looked forward to the next action by the government which he believed was setting people free. Secondly, a black power mentality was gaining popularity within the civil rights movement. Some activists argued that non violence should be abandoned and that whites should be excluded from the civil rights movement. In the book, Dr. King insists that this approach would only balkanize the US and produce disastrous effects especially on the blacks. The book portrays analysis of the state of American race relationships and the civil rights movement after years of struggles. Dr. King observes that one phase of development in the civil rights revolution came to an end with Selma and the Voting Rights Act (King, 3). King warned that continued racism and the dawning awareness that African American demands shall lead to structural changes in society had generated a new phase of white resistance in North and South (King, 12). He believed that the next phase of the civil movement struggle would have its own challenges, as more demands for higher wages, better jobs, decent housing, and an education equal system were made by African Americans. The activists also demanded an assurance that the Voting Rights Act of 1965  and Civil Rights Act of 1964  be implemented by the federal government. In the book, King assesses the rise of Black Nationalism and the escalating use of the slogan ‘‘Black Power’’. He recognized that the slogan implied rejection of interracial coalitions and call for retaliatory violence. He also praises the slogan as a call to black people to amass economic and political strength to achieve their legitimate goals. Reproving the demand for black separatism, Dr. King maintains that there is no real progress for African Americans unless the whole of America turns over a new turn toward greater economic justice’ (King, 50). In spite of his impatience with Black Power proponents, Dr. King ended the book on a positive note, calling for continued faith in non violent mass action .(King, 193–202). This is can compare to Homer’s notion in the Iliad whereby war is depicted as horrible, bloody, and fruitless. The two writers seem to have a more peaceful approach towards conflict resolution. The leadership style portrayed by Dr. King in the book is incisive. Critics have hailed the book for its ability to speak to the inner person in a constructive, reasonable, well judged and practical tone. A scathing review appeared in the New York Review of Books: August 1967 saying Martin Luther King used to have the ability to talk to people, had the power to change their thoughts by creating images of revolution, but the task of a true revolutionary is to create revolutions, and King had made none. At the end of the book, Dr. King states his support for the guaranteed income policy, which was advocated for by both right-wing and left-wing leaders. Classic Greek Literature Greek Literature, dates back to early 5th century, and it continues in a distinguishable trend to the end of the 4th c. B.C. (after which it called Hellenistic literature). Greek stories had their complete share of viciousness and illogicality; this is because Greeks were once savages. However, the great majority of the stories were made so beautiful by the Greek poets such as homer making the eternally marveled. There existed in Greece a school of ancient poetry, under the names of Homer and Hesiod. The Iliad of Homer The Iliad is a poem written based on life in Greece 3000 years ago, during the final year of the Trojan War. In the first pages, the Greek hero Achilles argues with the king (Agamemnon), over a female slave whom the Greek soldiers had given to Achilles as a prize of honor in recognition of his achievements. Achilles avoids fighting and remains reserved for most parts of the poem, throughout which the Trojans, led by Hector who is Trojan King Priam's son. Hector kills Achilles' close friend, Patroclus, prompting him start fighting again. The Greeks push the Trojans back to their fortress. Achilles kills Hector. The Iliad ends there. Achilles dies from an arrow shot into his leg before they enter Troy using a hollow wooden horse and destroy the fortress. The Iliad’s Summary In The Iliad, the subject is clearly presented from the beginning like in other ancient epic poems. The poet invokes a muse to assist him in telling the story of the wrath of Achilles, the greatest Greek hero in the Trojan War. The focus in the poem is named in the opening word: menin, or “rage.” The Iliad specifically concerns itself with the rage of Achilles, from how it begins, how it cripples the Achaean army, and finally becomes redirected toward the Trojans. Although the Trojan War is outstandingly mentioned in the work, this larger clash eventually provides the background rather than subject matter. The poem does not describe the genesis nor the end of the war that causes Achilles’ wrath. Instead, it focuses on the wrath, narrowing the scope of the poem. It also concerns itself greatly with the motivations and actions of the gods. Homer explains that Apollo was responsible for the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. In the poem, the gods participate in mortal affairs in two ways. They act as external forces in the course of events, as when Apollo sends the plague upon the Achaean army. They also represent internal forces acting on individuals. Athena, who is the goddess of wisdom, restrains Achilles and persuades him to cut Agamemnon with words and insults rather than his sword. In the clash between Achilles and Agamemnon, a very dominant and important aspect of the ancient Greek moral system is clearly revealed: personal honor. Agamemnon and Achilles put first their respective personal victories over the well-being of the Achaean armies. Agamemnon thinks that, as chief king of the Achaean armies, he deserves Briseis, the highest available prize and is thus ready to provoke Achilles, the most crucial Achaean warrior; to secure what he thinks is rightfully owed to him. Achilles would rather defend his personal spoil of victory and what he thinks is properly owed to him, than defuse the situation. Each man hence puts his own interest ahead of that of his people, interfering with the war effort. Comparison and Conclusion War is depicted as horrible, bloody, and fruitless In Homer's Iliad.  There are no clear winners in The Iliad. Arrogant and emotional decisions made by men cause the death of many people.  Achilles refuses to fight, leaving the Greeks at a disadvantage, and then poorly advises his friend Patroclus to join the other fighters and thus directly causes the death of his friend.  Even the initial cause of the war in Paris, kidnapping of Helen, a Greek woman, is a rash and selfish act. In ‘Where Do We Go from Here’, Dr. King blames himself for misleading the then youthful leaders of the Black Power Movement by giving them overly positive views on the status of integration. He presents the pros and cons of Black Power and states the need for whole America to do a lot more to improve race relationships other than just declaring racism to be wrong. King calls for the teaching of the history of African-Americans, and for the country to focus more on assisting the poor over excessive military spending. This can be compared to Iliad since, in both stories, there exists a ‘war’ which has been going on for almost one decade (Racism and Trojan War). References Latimore, R. (1951). Homer. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Ling, P.  (2012). Martin Luther King’s Style of Leadership. .http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/martin_luther_king_print.html. Retrieved on September 1, 2012. Luther, M. (1967). Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? New York, Evanston and London: Harper & Row Publishers. Read More